Volvo CE is driving change in Cambodia

Construction has begun on an 18-hole golf course in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh – designed by a golfing champion and built with help from a fleet of Volvo construction equipment.

The Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, once known as the ‘Pearl of Asia’, sits on the picturesque bank of the Mekong River. The city is home to a wealth of Cambodian heritage sites including Wat Phnom, the ancient Buddhist temple from which the city takes its name. As well as being a popular tourist destination – attracting a sizeable portion of the 4 million tourists that visit the country every year – Phnom Penh is also home to over 2 million Cambodians.

Adding another star attraction to the local area, Vattanac Properties has recently started construction of a new designer golf course just 15km from the city center. The prestigious course has been designed by former world number one golfer Nick Faldo and is set to be one of the region’s premier golfing resorts. Sam Ang Vattanac, executive director of Vattanac Properties, explains that this local development company has big ideas for the future of the area.

“The new golf resort will cover over 500 hectares, featuring 18 challenging holes,” he says. “The excellent location and first-class design will enhance golfing standards in Cambodia, bringing together tourists and locals alike to experience an excellent game only a stone’s throw from our popular capital city.”

Putting quality first

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is on hand to ensure the project is on course. Five EC210BLC crawler excavators were chosen in the early stages of development to work in a range of applications onsite. The Volvo CE machines will be instrumental in constructing all aspects of the luxury golf resort, which will include a clubhouse, hotel, wedding banquet facility and extensive real estate. The development is set to be completed in 2020, with the five EC210BLC machines contracted until the project close.

Volvo CE’s dealer in Cambodia, United Mercury Group (UMG), recommended these machines as a perfect fit for the variety of tasks the projects entails. Currently, the machines are involved in clearing the land for the first stages of development. UMG is providing a full range of aftersales services, ensuring that each machine is performing to the highest standards at all times.

“UMG has developed a very close relationship with Vattanac and all other project stakeholders,” says Mr. Vattanac. “These Volvo CE machines were chosen because of their strong reputation in Cambodia. Our operators are very happy with the quality of the machinery and the service provided by UMG. We look forward to a fruitful partnership for the duration of the project.”

Gaining traction

The EC210BLC is a popular machine throughout the region, featuring a unique hydraulic system and four power modes for ultimate versatility. A robust undercarriage and variety of boom and arm configurations make this machine an ideal fit for the range of tasks require on this project.

Volvo CE machines have experienced a recent surge in sales across the Cambodia. Volvo crawler excavators, such as the EC210BLC, have seen a 50% increase in market share since the beginning of 2015. As the leading manufacturer of wheeled excavators and compaction machinery, Volvo CE is developing a strong position in the local market, with projects such as the Vattanac golf course contributing to a growing reputation in the Cambodian construction industry.